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enDowntown businesses evacuate after gas leakhttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/193233-downtown-businesses-evacuate-after-gas-leak
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<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A natural gas leak is now impacting about a dozen businesses around the 100 block of N. Davis Street near W. Forsyth Street, according to TECO Peoples Gas. The leak was reported around 8:00 Tuesday morning and contained around 5:15 that evening. Crews capped the pipe's valves at both ends, stopping the flow of gas. </p>
<p>TECO says they are working into the night so they can restore gas as soon as possible for the area.</p>
<p>According to Tom Francis with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, no evacuations were ordered, but a nearby glass company, Pilkington, did evacuate on it's own when the odor from the leak filled their building. </p>
<p>Francis says the gas fumes got into the building's piping, which is what created the strong odor, but he emphasized that the gas was not a threat to anyone.</p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 7:19pm</span> </div>
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<p><a href="http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/193233-downtown-businesses-evacuate-after-gas-leak" target="_blank">read more</a></p>NewsWed, 25 Feb 2015 00:19:30 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff193233 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.comPower restored to Liberty Street residents downtownhttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/193243-power-restored-liberty-street-residents-downtown
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<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Power has been restored downtown to residents on Liberty Street, according to a release from the mayor's office.</p>
<p>Though there's no one home to enjoy the newly restored service. The Duval County Emergency Management said it's trying to get people back in their homes as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>Residents of about 20 Riverwalk Townhomes had power again as of 1:06 p.m. on Tuesday, JEA told the Duval County Emergency Management. </p>
<p>The collapse on February 1 left residents without power for 23 days.</p>
<p>The city's emergency action will cover the expenses of the homeowners to return service after the street collapse severed an electrical line, knocking out power to the homes.</p>
<p>The city believes the permanent repairs, including reimbursing owners for their expenses, could cost about $200,000.</p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 3:38pm</span> </div>
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NewsTue, 24 Feb 2015 20:38:32 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff193243 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.comLocal shelter gives away free Christmas treeshttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/192673-local-shelter-gives-away-free-christmas-trees
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<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- More than 100 local families received an early Christmas present on Wednesday.</p>
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<p>An anonymous donor purchased real Christmas trees and handed them all over to Trinity Rescue Mission.</p>
<p>"It's someone who's been a longtime supporter of us. He wanted people to have a Christmas tree that could not afford one on their own," said Pastor Jim Kilpatrick.</p>
<p>The shelter decided to give all the trees away to area families in need this holiday season.</p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - 8:11pm</span> </div>
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<p><a href="http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/192673-local-shelter-gives-away-free-christmas-trees" target="_blank">read more</a></p>NewsThu, 18 Dec 2014 01:11:46 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff192673 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.comGag order issued in Perrywinkle custody casehttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/185823-gag-order-issued-perrywinkle-custody-case
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Rayne Perrywinkle, the mother of an 8-year-old girl who was abducted and slain in 2013 returned to court Wednesday morning in an attempt to regain custody of her two other daughters 6-year-old Destiny and 5-year-old Neveah.</p>
<p>Multiple parties were represented in court, including both parents, paternal grandfather and the state. </p>
<p>All parties argued and Judge Davis agreed that by statute the hearing should be closed. A gag order was issued to all parties.</p>
<p>The termination of parental rights was also discussed, but the hearing was delayed until August 18 at 9 a.m.</p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Wednesday, August 13, 2014 - 1:46pm</span> </div>
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<p><a href="http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/185823-gag-order-issued-perrywinkle-custody-case" target="_blank">read more</a></p>NewsWed, 13 Aug 2014 17:46:48 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff185823 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.comCity paves over community garden in food deserthttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/175723-city-paves-over-community-garden-food-desert
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Food deserts in low income areas throughout Jacksonville are a big issue. A community garden in the Downtown area created to help combat the problem of little or no access to affordable nutritious foods has been paved over by the city. A dumpster just feet away from a children's playground is one concern in front of the J.S. Johnson community center and another is what use to take up a 32x32 space.</p>
<p>In 2013 Val Herrmann, staff members at the community center and neighborhood kids planted a vegetable garden. It was filled with goods such as peas, collard greens and sweet potatoes. The kids were taught how to maintain it and how start their own gardens.</p>
<p> "It was a heyday," said Herrmann. "They were like throwing them down on the ground and coming and getting more seeds." </p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 10:15pm</span> </div>
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<p><a href="http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/175723-city-paves-over-community-garden-food-desert" target="_blank">read more</a></p>NewsFri, 06 Jun 2014 02:15:17 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff175723 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.comWater Taxi service soltuionhttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/175693-water-taxi-service-soltuion
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UPDATE <i>June 5</i> -- The City of Jacksonville is purchasing two water taxi's Friday and plans to have them in service Saturday, according to said Chief Administrative Officer Karen Bowling. Water taxi service was expected to end Friday, but after downtown hotel operators and other businesses voiced concern, the city was able to come up with a solution.</p>
<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In less than two weeks, the Jacksonville Water Taxi (JWT) is shutting down. </p>
<p>HarborCare has notified the City of Jacksonville that it will suspend water taxi services after the expiration of their current contract with the city. The company says the city rejected their bid to continue service. The notice says the service does not meet the required number of minimum seats. JWT has less than 40 seats per boat.</p>
<p>The city says the Jacksonville Parks department plans to rebid and restart water taxi services as soon as possible. </p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 9:51pm</span> </div>
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<p><a href="http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/175693-water-taxi-service-soltuion" target="_blank">read more</a></p>NewsFri, 06 Jun 2014 01:51:51 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff175693 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.comFour names added to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Wallhttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/174063-four-names-added-jacksonville-veterans-memorial-wall
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- More than 1700 names are written on the Veterans Memorial Wall near Everbank Field. Lives all given for our freedom. On an overcast Memorial Day morning, four more names were added.</p>
<p>Deangelo Brown, Kejuan Haywood, Johnny Oliver and Dustin Curtiss.</p>
<p>Curtiss was a Marine, father avid runner and husband.</p>
<p>"He performed honors at hundreds of funerals for active duty and retired service members, which he always said was the greatest honor of his life," said Curtiss' wife during the ceremony.</p>
<p>Johnny Oliver was a sailor, killed in Bahrain last May. His wife is still dealing with his loss.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I wake up and I think, Johnny how am I going to do this? How am I going to go on without you? Then I think about it and we have to keep living for them, because if we keep talking about them and keep their memory alive, they will never die," she said.</p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Monday, May 26, 2014 - 1:55pm</span> </div>
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<p><a href="http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/174063-four-names-added-jacksonville-veterans-memorial-wall" target="_blank">read more</a></p>NewsMon, 26 May 2014 17:55:05 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff174063 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.comMayor Brown appoints Acting General Counselhttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/173683-mayor-brown-appoints-acting-general-counsel
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<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jason R. Gabriel was appointed as Acting General Counsel to lead the City of Jacksonville's legal strategy and initiatives.</p>
<p>The move comes after General Counsel Cindy Laquidara announced April 23 that she will depart the City of Jacksonville to join the Akerman LLP law firm effective July 1, 2014. She has repeatedly been honored for her advice and counsel during more than 15 years with the City.</p>
<p>Since Laquidara's departure will be effective on July 1, 2014, Mayor Brown has filled the vacancy with an Acting General Counsel pursuant to Section 7.205 of the City of Jacksonville Charter. That appointee will be subject to Council confirmation and will serve until July 1, 2015.</p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Friday, May 23, 2014 - 4:18pm</span> </div>
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<p><a href="http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/173683-mayor-brown-appoints-acting-general-counsel" target="_blank">read more</a></p>NewsFri, 23 May 2014 20:18:09 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff173683 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.comCity pension negotiations ongoinghttp://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/173343-city-pension-negotiations-ongoing
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<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mayor Alvin Brown and the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund are finding agreement on some issues, but road blocks on others.</p>
<p>The two sides for two weeks have been working to find common ground on how to shore up a $1.6 billion dollar unfunded liability.</p>
<p>"Our members always paid our contributions,' said pension administrator John Keane in noting the city has failed to pay its share.</p>
<p>The city is agreeing to pay $40 million extra annually to help make up the deficit.</p>
<p>The pension fund has agreed to contribute $60 million this year toward the unfunded amount with a cap of $105 million overall.</p>
<p>The sticking points are the cost of living adjustments given to current members. The fund wants the COLA to remain at 3% with the city wanting the cap to be 2.25%.</p>
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<span class="date-display-single">Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - 5:07pm</span> </div>
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<p><a href="http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/173343-city-pension-negotiations-ongoing" target="_blank">read more</a></p>NewsWed, 21 May 2014 21:07:39 +0000FirstCoastNews Web Staff173343 at http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com